> What data are these decisions based on? The data used by the person in charge of making this decision (typically a VP or a Sr Director): what is the probabil

> What data are these decisions based on? The data used by the person in charge of making this decision (typically a VP or a Sr Director): what is the probability of them getting promoted. If doubling down or just maintaining and polishing existing projects was rewarded, Google wouldn't have been in this state. Now why those incentives exist that way? It was a confluence of factors in 2000's when internet was growing rapidly, Google had lots of talented employees, a bold bet in a new area (email, news, street view or browser) had a higher expected value than polishing and maintaining existing products. The culture needs a reset, Google is currently living through its "Ballmer era".